Refrigerator



Jan. 31, 1933. QE. L. LIPMAN 1,895,806

l REFRIGERATOR Filed Sept. 2, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 31, 1933. c. E. L. LIPMAN REFRIGERATOR Filed Sept. 2, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 @Wach Jall- 31,1933- c. E. L. LIPMM'TJ REFRIGERATOR Filed sept. 2. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 otoo atb oto ci o'a o oto g ein o UDO Patented Jan. 31, 1933 .UNITED STATES PATENT Vorfli'lcE CARL iE. L. LIPMLAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGN OR TO LIPMAN PATENTS CORPORA- TION, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE REFRIGERATOR Application med september 2, 1930. serial No. 479,389.

This invention relates to refrigerating systems and devices such as household refrigerators although it will be manifest that the invention may be applied to refrigerators and systems of any type and size.

One of the difficult problems of a satisfactory refrigerating system and particularly of a system suitable for use as a household refrigerator is the proper cooling of the refrigerating unit, that is, the motor-compressor and condenser. Other problems closely associated therewith are the prevention of absorption of the refrigerant in the lubricat-v ing oil particularly during idle periods of the compressor and the prevention of a large starting load after an idle period.

It is the purpose of this invention therefore, to provide for the roper insulation and cooling of the various e em'ents of the system7 to prevent the absorption of refrigerant in the lubricating oil and to prevent large starting loads after an idle period of the compressor. t

It is also an object of this invention to deaden the noise of operation of the system preferably by the same medium utilized to accomplish one or more of the foregoing purposes of this invention.

According to this invention the motor compressor unit is insulated and yet cooled sufiiciently to maintain the unit at the proper temperature during both running and idle periods. It has been found satisfactory to mount the unit within an insulated compartment of the cabinet and to provide an air flue for conducting air over the desired elements of the system in proper quantities. Means may .also be employed either independently of or in conjunction with the compartment and flue for preventing too great a cooling of the oil during idle periods of the compressor.

A better understanding of this invention will be obtained from the following description of one embodiment of this invention given in connection with the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a refrigerator embodying a system and cabinet constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the top of the refrigerator with certain parts cut away to illustrate the internal construction of the cabinet.

F ig. 3 is a rear elevation with one wall partially broken away.

Fig. 4 is a section on lined-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 o f Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the motor compressor unit With the oil cooler7 condenser and guard removed.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view partly in section of a modified form of my invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and to the form of this invention shown in Figs. l to 6, there is illustrated a refriglerator including a system constructed in accordance With this invention and mounted in a cabinet l, having an upper division 2 constructed to house the evaporating unit, condenser and motor compressor unit. The lower compartment 3 is provided with the usual shelves and is designed to constitute the usual refrigerating compartment for foodstuffs.

The refrigerator cabinet is formed at itsrear with an air flue `9- extending the full height of the cabinet being terminated at its upper end by the top 10 of the refrigerator which is perforated as at 11 at that portion overlying the duct to permit the flow of air therethrough. The lower end of the duct terminates in an open end provided with a curved'. shroud 12. At the lower end a fan 13 is placed and arranged to direct air into the duct and upwardly therethrough.

The 4upper division of the refrigerator cabmeans of a cover 21 upon starting the motorcompressor unit which may rea inet is divided into a compartment 14 arranged to receivethe evaporator 6 and an insulated compartment 15 arranged to receive the motor compressor unit 4. The compartment 15 opens into the fiue 9 but is substantially thermally vsealed therefrom by a sheet or guard of insulating material 16 provided withapertures 17 and 18 (Figs. 2 and 5) to permit the passage of the necessary connections from the motor compressor unit. The apertures are also of suiicientl size to permit a limited circulation from the air duct into and out of the compartment 15. The oil cooling coils 19 and condenser 5'are placed in the duct or flue 9 adjacent the upper end thereof where they will be in the direct path of the iow of air directed by fan 13 through the yflue. The air rising in Hue 9 passes over the coils 19 and 5 and discharges through the opening 7, a certain portion of the air passing through apertures 17 and 18 and thus 'circulating through compartment From the above it Will be seen that the condenser and cooling coils are in a position -to be cooled sufficiently whereas the motor compressor unit is within an insulated chamber or compartment where`it will not be cooled beyond a desired point particularly when the motor compressor is idle.

In addition to placing the sor unit in an insulated compartment the motor compressor is further heat insulated by of some insulating material such as asbestos, elastic fleece Wool rubber sponge composition or other insulating material. This will further prevent cooling of the compressor during idle periods'and 'will also act as a sound deadener to minimize the noise of operation.

Itis desirous to prevent undue vcoolingI of ily occur during idle periods in order to prevent cooling ot the oil. Cooling of thelubricating oil has two detrimental effects, one being the thickening of the oil which places heavy loads of the motor and the other being that cooled oil has a tendency to absorb the refrigerant particularly SO2. The oil therebyloses its lubricating qualities.

According to the foregoing construction the insulatedcompartment and the cover 21 prevents undue cooling of the motor particularly during idle periods while the cooling of the oil during running periods maintains the motor compressor unit at proper .temperature during these latter periods.

eration of fan 13 in accordance with the tem.

pierature conditions of the condenser and hereto.

motor compres-` The electrical connections to the fan and motor are 'so arranged through a plug connectlonl 23 (Fig. 6) that the circuit tothe fan is also broken when the unit is removed.

Referring to the modification shown in: Fig. 7 the construction and arrangement is similar to that previously described with the exception that the fan 13-is placed at the top of the air flue 9 instead of at the bottom thereof andA `the shroud 12 is accordingly omitted.

It is obvious that many made in the details of construction wit out departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims appended I claim:

1. A refrigerator comprising a vcabinet having a compartment in the upper portion thereof, a motor compressor unit'disposed in said compartment, an air {iue in communication with said compartment and extending to the lower portion of said cabinet and opening exteriorly of the cabinet at its lower end, and a fan arranged to induce a' flow of air therethrough.

2. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet havinga compartment in the upper portion thereof, a motor compressor unit disposed in sald compartment, means l lmotor compressor unit, and an air for insulatin said ue in communication with said compartment and opening exteriorly of the cabinet.

3. In a sealed refrigeratin sealed refrigerating unit inclu ing a motor compressor unit and means for insulating said unit to maintain said unit at a substantially predetermined temperature duri-ng idle and runningvperiods.

4. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet having an insulated compartment in the upper portion thereof, a motor compressor unit disposed in said compartment, an air iiue in communication with said compartment and extending to the lower portion of saidl cabinet and opening exteriorly of the cabinet at its lower end, and a fan adjacent the bottom of the iue to induce a iow of air therethrough.

5.`A refrigerator comprising a cabinet having an insulated compartment in the upper portion thereof, a motor compressor unit disposed in said compartment, an air flue in communication with said compartment and extending to the lower portion of said cabinet and opening exteriorly of the cabinet at its lower end, and a fan adjacent the top of the iue to induce a iow 'of air therethrough. u

6. In a refrigerator cabinet, a compartment in the u per portion thereof adapted to receive a re rigerating unit, an air flue in communication with said compartment and changes ma be` system, a,

be removed as one unit.

extending to the lower portion of said cabinet and opening'exteriorly of said cabinet at its lower end and means for establishing a circulation of air through said flue and compartment and means for controlling the fiow of air through said compartment.

7'. In a refrigerator cabinet, a compartment in the upper portion thereof adapted to receive a refrigerating unit, means for insulating said unit, an air Hue in communication with said compartment" and extending to the lower portion of said cabinet and open- A ing exteriorly of said cabinet at its lower lend, means for establishing a circulation of air through said flue and means for admitting a restricted portion of air through said compartment.

8. In a refrigerating system, a motor compressor, a. condenser for liquefying the compressed refrigerant, an evaporator for receiving the liquefied refrigerant, means for cooling the lubricating oil for said compressor during running periods of said compressor and means for insulating said compressor and lubricating oil contained there- 1n.

9. In a refrigerator cabinet, an insulated compartment in the upper portion thereof adapted to receive a refrigerating unit including a motor compressor, an air iue ex# tending from said compartment to the lower portion of said cabinet and opening exteriorly of said cabinet at its lower end, means for establishing a circulation of air through said Hue and through said compartment, and an insulating cover for said motor compressor.

1 0. In a sealed refrigerating system, a. casing, a motor compressor unit sealed within said casing, a condenser for liquefying theV compressed refrigerant, an evaporator for receiving the liquefied refrigerant and means for preventing the lubricating oil from absorbing appreciable amounts of refrigerant comprising an insulating hood surrounding said casing.

11. In a sealed refrigerating system, a

' casing, a motor compressor unit sealed Within said casing, a condenser for liquefying the compressed refrigerant, an evaporator for receiving the liquefied refrigerant and means for preventing the lubricating oil from absorbing appreciable amounts of refrigerant comprising an insulating hood surrounding said casing.

12. In a refrigerator, a cabinet having a thermally insulated compartment therein, a

compressor in said compartment, and means for 'circulating a predetermined amount of air through said compartment, whereby the lubricating voil for said compressor is maintained substantially at a predetermined temperature.

13. In a refrigerator, a cabinet having a thermally insulated compartment therein. a compressor in said compartment, an air duct in communication with said insulated compartment for circulating air therethrough,

and means for restricting the flow of air through said compartment, whereby the lubricating oil for said compressor is main-l predetermined temin communication with said insulated comv partment for circulating air therethrough, and `means for restricting the flow of air through said compartment, said means comprising a `partition between said duct and compartment'having apertures therethrough, whereby the lubricating oil for said compressor is maintained substantially at a predetermined temperature. v

15. In a refrigerator, al cabinet having a thermally insulated compartment therein, a compressor of a refrigerating apparatus disposed in said compartment, and an air flue arranged to receive part of the refrigerating apparatus, said flue opening exteriorly of said cabinet and being in communication with said compartment.

16. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet having an insulated compartment, and an air duct in communication with said compartment and exteriorly of said cabinet and a refrigerating unit including a motor, compressor and condenser disposed within said cabinet and removable therefrom in a horizontal direction as a unit,said motor and compressor being normally positioned with sai-d insulated chamber and said condenser being nor- Qpressor, a condenser for liquefyin the compressed refrigerant, an evaporator or receiving the liquefied refrigerant, and insulating means for said motor compressor arranged to maintain the motor compressor substantially within a predetermined temperature range during idle periods of said compressor to maintain the lubricating oil therein at desired temperatures.

19. In a refrigerating system, a motor compressor, a condenser for liquefying the compressed refrigerant, an evaporator for receiving the liquefied refrigerant, meaps for extracting some of the heat occasioned `by operation of said motor compressor during running periods to maintain the motor compressor at desired4 operating temperatures, and insulating means arranged to maintain 5 the motor compressor substantially within a lpredetermined temperature range during idle periods of said compressor to maintain the tubricating oil therein at desired tempera- 20. In a refrigerating system, a motor compressor, a condenser for'liquefying the com` pressed refrigerant, an evaporator for receiving the liqueied refrigerant, and means for insulating the lubricating oil arranged to maintain it substantially at a predetermined temperature during idle periods of the motorcompressor to prevent the lubricating oil fromv absorbing appreciable' amounts of refrigerant during said period.

21. In a refrigerating system, a motor compressor, a condenser for liquefying the com. f pressed refrigerant, an evaporator for receiving the liquefied refrigerant, means for cooling the lubricating oil forv said compressor during running periods of said compressor, and insulating means arranged to maintain the lubricating oil substantia ly within a predetermined temperature range during idle periods of the motor compressor to prevent the lubricating oil from absorbing appreciable amounts of the refrigerant during idleI periods .of the compressor. v f

Inn witness of the foregoing I ax my` sigr'` nature.. CARL E. L. LIPMAN. 

